January 16, 2014

Memphis, Tenn. — Barbara Heather Olford, who served in ministry throughout her life alongside her husband Stephen Olford, died Dec. 21, 2013. She was 89.

Barbara Olford, who went by Heather, was born in Northern Ireland and surrendered her life to Christ as a teenager. She married Stephen Olford in 1948 and the couple served together in ministry in London and New York City from 1953 to 1973. Her recent book “Together with God” was based on the marriage motto she and Stephen Olford shared.

Roger Willmore, pastor of Deerfoot Baptist Church, Trussville, said, “Mrs. Olford has been a close friend for more than 40 years. She, like her husband, lived only and fully for Christ. She was a model Christian, wife and mother. She was an encourager of pastors and pastors’ wives. Many Alabama Baptist pastors — like me — received encouragement from her along the way.”

Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor of First Baptist Church, Spanish Fort, is another one of those pastors. “Heather Olford graciously took time to write the preface for my upcoming book titled ‘Don’t Miss the Revival!’ She shared the hope of genuine revival and spiritual awakening with her late husband, who commissioned me to write this book. Her kindness to me down through the years will be remembered with gratitude.”

In 1988, the Olfords developed the Stephen Olford Center for Biblical Preaching in Memphis, Tenn., as a training center to encourage and equip preachers. Later Olford Ministries International was formed and in 2007, three years after Stephen Olford died, the 18-acre complex in southeast Memphis became a ministry of Union University, with its main campus located in Jackson, Tenn. Heather Olford was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, and served on several boards. She later established The Stephen Oflord Ministry Legacy Project, which serves under the umbrella of Global Ministries Fellowship.